Street sweeping machine



March 23, 1943. Q J, ARNE-r-r STREET swEEPING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet V1 Filed Dec. 2, 1940` ATTORNEYS March 23, 1943. o.` J. ARNl-:TT

STREET SWEEPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 2, 1940 6 heets-Sheet 2 March 23, 1943. o. J. ARNETT.

STREET SWEEPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 2, 1940 Y 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS www.

O. J. ARNETT STREET swEEPING' MACHINE March 23, 1943.

Filed Dec. 2. 19410l 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 nagaat mum N hm n 1 i mbv h v mau he. QQ )Q5 u MW. mv Wmv .m WNQ@ ATTORNEYS l March 23,41943. o, ARNETT STREET swEEPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 2, -1940 6 sheets-sheet 5 Y Aw SW A .NUN 0% NAW BY mywwwl ATTORNEYS March 23, '1943.

o. .1. ARNETT STREET SWEEPING MACHINE e sheets-sheet e Filed Dec.. 2, 1940 ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 23, 1943 UNITED 1STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,314,381 STREET swEEPING MAcmNE oliver J; Arnett, santa Ana, Calif. ApplicationDecember-Z, 1940, Serial No. 368,268

c Claims.v (ci. 1 5-86 A The present invention relates to improvements in street sweeping machines.

An object of the invention is the provision of a street sweeping machine of generally improved construction. v

Another' object of the invention is to provide a sweeping machine equipped with brush means in construction and not unduly expensive to produce.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description pro-'- gresses.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are 'employed to designate corresponding parts throughout:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of the machine with parts removed and other parts broken away to illustrate interior construction,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan View of the drivers seat and adjacent structure,

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 4,

Figure 4 is a right side elevational View partly in section,

Figure 5 is a detail elevational view of the rear brush and adjacent structure,

Figure 6 is a similar view showing the brush Worn down to substantially decreased diameter,

Figure '7 an enlarged sectional view taken approximately on line 'I--l of Figure 8,

AFigure 8 is a section taken approximately on line 8--3 of Figure '7,

Figure 9 is a similar section taken on line 9-2 of Figure 7,

Figure 10 is a left side elevational View of the machine ywith partsk in section,

Figure l1 is a fragmentary side elevational iew of the front of the machine showing the hopper in dumping arrangement,

Figure 12 is a transverse sectional view taken on line I2-I2 of Figure 4,

Figure 13 is a similar view taken on line 13--13 of Figure 4,

Figure 14 is a fragmentary top plan view of the elevator inlet,

of a transverse front axle 30.

Figure 15 is a detail elevational view of one of the elevating blades, i

Figure 16 is an elevational view of part of one of the blade guiding levers,

Figure 1'7 is a fragmentary detail view of a connecting knuckle lfor the blades,

Figure 18 is a detail section taken approximately on line I8--I8 of Figure 15 showing the guide lever connected to the blade,

Figure 19 is a sectional view through the casing sections of the elevator showing said sections in separating relation,

Figure 20 is a fragmentary view through the same showing the sections in assembled relation,

Figure 21y is a perspective view showing one of the blades with its associated guide and actuating mechlanism, and

Figure 22 is a `fragmentary elevational view showing' the hopper vdumping cam mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred example of the invention, F generally designates the. frame of the machine having a U-shaped rearward portion I0 which is connected to a rear axle housing II having conventional axle shafts I2 mounted therein for driving the rear wheels I3. The differential, indicated at D, is driven through the medium of an upwardly directed shaft I4 journaled in a tubular housing I5 and carrying, at its upper end, a bevel pinion I6 in mesh with a complementary pinion I1 secured integral with the bevel drive gear I8. This latter gear is secured on a, transversely extending shaft I9 journaled in a housing 20 supported in upstanding brackets 2l. The gear I8 is also in mesh with a pinion 22 connected with the countershaft of a conventional transmission T disposed at the rear of a drive motor M having a forwardly extending gear shift lever L. The motor M is supported on horizontally extending frame bars 23 to one of which are connected laterally projecting brackets 24 supporting a seat 25 mounted at the rear of a steering wheel 2G secured on the upper end of a vertically disposed steering shaft 21. The lower end of this steering shaft connects with any preferred known type of steering mechanism S connected with the end spindles 28 of a pair offront wheels 29, said spindles being mounted to turn at the ends This axle is secured to the depending bracket elements of a transversely extending forward frame bar 3 l, the ends of which connect with' the forward portions yofside .frame bars 32.

Pivotally supported on the machine forwardly of the motor is an elevator assembly of approximately circular form comprising a base section of pan-shaped formation 33 having a flat bottom 35 and an inclined side wall 35 providing an increasing taper from the bottom 34 outwardly thereof. The top of this elevator section is shaped to form an annular marginal flange 35 extending inwardly from the top edge of the circumferential wall 35. At the bottom 34, within the section 33, is formed an annular rib 31 concentric with a center opening 3B therein. This base section 33 is assembled in complementary relation with a cover section 39 in the form of a flat circular head chamber formed at the inner wall 40 with a frusto-conical neck 4l shaped at the outer end to form a cylindrical ange 42 adapted to be rotatably tted about the rib 31. At the intermediate portion of the conical neck 4| is formed a web 43 provided with a central opening 44 and having a collar 45 bolted thereto. The inner circular wall 4l) of this section is provided at angularly spaced intervals with curved slots 46, the purpose of which will be described hereinafter.

These sections are releasably secured in intertting assembly by a diametrically arranged clamp structure embodying a top section 41 disposed to extend across the upper casing section 39 and a bottom section 48 extending across the bottom of the base casing sectiony 33, these clamp sections being detachably secured by bolts 49 at opposed ends thereof. In axial relation with the casing sections 33 and 39 the clamp sections are provided with bearings 50 in which are journaled the end portions of a shaft To this shaft is secured the inner hub portion 52 of a spider frame having four radial arms 53 and to the ends of which isv secured an approximately circular track forming ring 5,4 arranged within the cover section 39. Spaced inwardly from the spider arms 53 within this section is a plate 55 in the formr of a disk keyed to the shaft 5| in a plane parallel with the spider. To the top face of this, disk are secured by screws 56, a plurality of, in the present example 8, arms 51 arranged tangentiall'y on the disk and having their outer portions projecting therefrom. To the outer end of each arm 51 is connected, by a knuckle pivot joint embodying complementary sections 58 and 59 shown to advantage at Figure 1'1, a lever 50 of obtuse angular formation. To one longitudinal side face of the angular extension 5| of each lever 60 is secured, by screws 52, the upper slotted head part 63 of a T-shaped connecting element having a right angular slotted body bar G4 and, at the end opposed to the head E3, a bracket bar 65. The intermediate body portion 64 of this T member is designed to extend through one of the slots 43 while the lower bracket portion 55 is secured to one side of an elongated blade 69. This blade is formed at its inner end with a right angular flange 51. To the bottom and outer edges of the blade body 66 is fastened a strip. 68 of flexible and resilient material such as rubber. On the outer arm portion 6| are mounted, in parallel positions, a pair of complementary rollers 69 rotatably supported on suitable spindles and adapted, in assembly, to roll upon the opposed faces of the superposed track 54 as shown to advantage at Figure 21. The collar 45 secured to the web 43 of the outer elevator casing is keyed to the shaft 5| so that this casing section is rotated with the shaft.

This assembled elevator mechanism is actually formed so that the base section is semicircular at the elevated portion while the depending portion is tapered, having converging side walls 10 which merge into a straight horizontally disposed lower wall portion 1|, the front wall flange 35 being open at this lower portion to provide an inlet opening or mouth 12. The guide track 54 is likewise of irregular shape at the lowermost portion, as shown at Figure 7, having straight converging lower portions 13 merging into an ogee portion 14 at the bottom. Thus, the track is peculiarly shaped to guide the blades, during their revolution within the fixed base portion of the casing, so that the bottom longitudinal and outer edges of the rubber strip 68 will move in resilient contact with the bottom wall 34 and the peripheral wall 35 of this section, as shown to advantage at Figures 7 and 8.

On the outer end of the rotary shaft 5| is secured a bevelvgear 15 in mesh with a right angular bevel pinion 'i6 secured on a transversely extending shaft 11. The gears 15 and 16 are housed in a gear casing 18 one side of which connects with a tubular housing 19 enclosing the shaft '11. The outer end of this housing extends to and connects with a casing at one side of the frame enclosing a bevel pinion 8| on shaft 11 in mesh with a bevel gear 82 secured to a forwardly directed inclined shaft 83 mounted in a housing 84 and having fixed on its forward end a bevel pinion 85 engaging a bevel gear 86 in a casing 81. On the intermediate portion of the shaft 11 is secured a bevel gear 8B in mesh with a bevel pinion 89 fixed on the forward end of a rearwardly directed shaft 9D extending through a housing 9|. At the rear end of the shaft 90 is secured a bevel gear 92 meshing with a bevel pinion 93 in a casing 94. This bevel gear 93 is secured on the outer end of the transversely extending shaft |9 to complete the drive from the power take-off to the elevator mechanism and the countershaft 83.

Through the casing 91 is extended a transverse fixed shaft 95 secured to the casing by a collar and nut connection 95 and having a tubular shaft 91 rotatably tted thereon. This latter shaft is secured to the gear 86 and makes driving connection with a pulley 98 over which is trained a drive belt 99. The shaft 95 extends through bearings |99 secured to the forward frame extensions 32 and supports thereon a sleeve |il| between the bearings |09. The major length of the sleeve is connected, by welding or the like, with a Ibottom of a hopper receptacle |92 mounted at the front of the machine frame and essentially of rectangular shape. The upper inner portion of the hopper is provided with an inlet opening |93 about which is formed an arcuately-shaped hood |94. This hopper is normally seated on the forward frame bars but is tiltable forwardly, as shown at Figures 10 and l1, about the axis of the shaft 95. With this in mind, a segmental cam |96 is secured to a projecting end of the sleeve lill, this cam having an arcuate edge |91 arranged to engage a roller |08 at the end of a push rod |59. The rear end of this rod is secured to a plunger ||0 mounted to reciprocate in a cylinder normally retracted by a coil spring 2 and adapted to be actuated by compressed air or any other preferred manner to swing the cam from its normal downward position, as shown in Figure 22, to an upwardly directed position as shown at Figure 10 wherein it turns the sleeve IDI and tilts the hopper forwardly as shown at Figures 10 and 11.

At the front of the hopper is provided an angular cover ||3 connected to the hopper -body |02 by a hinge I |4 and normally held in closed position by a spring pressed latch II5. rThis latch is releasable through the medium of a cable I6 operable from a position conveniently accessible to the-machine operator to free the cover or door I I3 so that it swings from the end of the hopper when the latter is in tilted arrangement in order that the contents of the hopper may be conveniently dumped therefrom.

The elevator housing and the associated drive gearing are supported on the machine by bearing brackets |I1 secured to opposed sides of the frame. The bearing of one of these brackets serves to support the transversely extending shaft housing 19 while the complementary bracket serves to support a pivot pin I|8. The sections 41 and 46 which clampingly engage the elevator casing assembly are formed, at each end of the frame member 41, with bearing brackets |I9, one of which rotatably engages the pin ||8 while the other is pivotally mounted on the shaft housing 19 adjacent the bearing of the support bracket ||1.

On the transmission shaft |4 is secured a bevel pinion |20 in mesh with a bevel gear |2| secured on a laterally extending shaft |22. To the other end of this shaft is connected a pinion |23 in mesh with a gear |24 secured on the rear endv of a longitudinally extending drive shaft |25.

This latter shaft extends forwardly at one side of theframe and is enclosed in a housing |26. On the forward end of shaft |25 is secured a bevel pinion |21 in mesh with a bevel gear |28 fixed on the outer end of i a transversely disposed stub shaft |29. On the opposite'end of this stub shaft is secured a pinion in mesh with a gear I3| Xed on the upper end of a depending shaft |32, the lower end of which is secured by a disk thereon to the head of a circular brush |33 disposed to assume an approximately horizontal position when operative. This brush is disposed at the forward right hand side of the machine and is adapted to effectively sweep the right hand gutter or the corner at the curbstone edge of the street. c

In order that this gutter or curbing brush may be raised to a non-sweeping position thecasing |34 enclosing the bevel gears |23 and |24 is formed with a bearing sleeve |35 rotatably fitted on the end portion of the housing |36 enclosing the shaft |22. This sleeve is enlarged to clear and abut a collar |31 fixed on the end of the housing |36 by a screw |38 to form a pivot connection which will allow vertical adjustment of the shaft housing |26. The forward portion of this housing |26 is supported on a roller |39 rotatably mounted in the lower end of an angular lever |40 fulcrumed intermediate its ends on a pivot supported in a bracket I4|. A link |42 pivotally connects the lever |40 with the upper end of a bell crank lever |43 pivoted on the frame by a pivot |44 and having the outer end of its short arm connected to the lower end of a tension spring |45. The upper end of this spring connects with the eye of a screw |46 supported by a nut |41 threadedly engaging the same and bearing on an angular bracket attached to the machine frame. This lever mechanism normally supports the brush under the tension of the spring and enables elevation thereof upon rearward movement of the lever |40, to clear obstacles or to render the gutter brush inoperative.

- Mounted transversely at the rear of the ma; chine is a cylindrical brush 48 making draft connection with the frame through the medium of a pair of complementary arms |49 having their forward ends pivotally connected -to the frame by a pivot connection |50 and their rear ends pivotally engaging trunnions |5I projecting axially from the brush core. At one side of the brush is secured a bevel gear |52 disposed to mesh with a bevel pinion |53 secured on the forward end of a shaft |54. This shaft is of the slidably extensi ble type embodying a pair of telescopic non-circular sections having secured to the rear end a bevel pinion |55 in mesh with a driving pinion |56. vThis latter pinion is secured to the outer end of a stub shaft |51 journaled in the casing |58 and having fixed on its inner end a bevel pinion |59. The pinion |59 is mounted to mesh with a pinion |60 secured on the outer end of a shaft |6I, driven through the medium of bevel gears |62 from the rear drive axle shaft of the machine. The shaft |54 is enclosed in a telescopic extensible housing |63 having rotatable connection with the gear housing |58 to permit vertical angular movement of the shaft. This mechanism provides means for rotatably driving the brush in a counter-clockwise direction as shown at Figures 4 and 5. .To longitudinally extending frame bars at each side of the brush |48 are connected a pair of complementary arcuate support members |64 disposed in vertical planes. Each of these members is pivotally attached to the frame by a pivot connection |65 and is formed at the bottom end with an angular foot |66 bifurcated to carry a street engaging roller |61. The upper end of each of these members is provided with a bearing |68 formed with an interiorly threaded bore through whichis extended an adjustable screw |69 which may be locked in set position by a locking nut |10. To an'eye at the inner end of the screw |69 is fastened the outer end of a coiled tension spring disposed so that its inner hooked end engages the apertured ear ofa collar |12 rotatably fitted on each trunnion of the brush. This struce ture serves to form a spring support for the rear brush of the machine.

Pivotally connected to a triangular web |13 secured in rearwardly extending position to each side of the elevator opening, by a pivot |14, is a tapered shoe plate |15 arranged in a vertical plane at each side of the brush and indented at the forward end to form a tongue portion |16 which projects beneath the elevator casing, as shown to advantage at Figures 4, 5 and 6. Each of these shoe plates has a longitudinal taper diminishing toward the rear end and shaped to form a straight slide edge |11 at the bottom thereof. These shoes function to direct sweepings from the end portions of the brush |48 into the mouth or inlet of the elevator.

The extensible shaft connection for driving the rear brush enables vertical movement of the brush to follow inequalities in the street surface and maintains the bottom con-tact area of the brush at substantially uniformly shaped relation with the inlet of the elevator even though the brush become greatly reduced in diameter, due

to wear, as best illustrated at Figure 6. As shown therein the spring suspension of the brush may over a-pulley I'i8 fixed on a shaft |79 journaled transversely on and extending through the rear portion of the hopper |32. On this shaft,- within the hopper, is secured a sleeve carrying a plurality of radial elongated vanes |80 disposed, relative to the inletoi the hopper, so as to throw the material to the forward portion of the hopper. The bottom right side of the hopper is shaped to provide a cavity itl therein to afford clearance for the elevation of the circular brush |33. l

At the rear of the frame is mounted a tank |82 adapted to contain a supply of water which may be sprinkled in any preferred manner to lay the dust.

During sweeping operation of the machine the horizontally disposed brush |32 sweeps the gutter and angular corner portion at the curbing and throws the sweepings laterally inte the path of the main rear sweeper, this front brush rotating in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed from Figure 1. The cylindrical rear brush, rotated in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed from Figure 4, throws the sweepings, such as dirt, leaves and the like, into the lower inlet opening of the rotary elevating apparatus. In this casing the rotating blades 66, moving in the direction shown at Figure '7, carry the sweepings upwardly through the marginal passage in the stationary casing section 33 and discharge the samethrough the outlet it in the upper portion thereof and the registering opening 03 in the hopper wherein the rotary vanes |30 throw the material toward the forward portion of the hopper.

The .extensible and pivotally movable shaft connections for driving the'brushes enable vertical movement thereof for effective sweeping of uneven surfaces of a street while the spring suspension of the brushes provides highly suitable brushA Contact without injury to the bristles.

Tous, the machine presents an exceptionally compact structure for sweeping, elevating and carrying dirt and the like from streets, the hopper formation and arrangement affording exceptionally large capacity for carriage of the sweepings. This construction is not unduly complicated but is durable and simple to operate.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes relative to the'material, size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. In a street sweeping machine having a brush at the rear portion and a sweepings receiving hopper on the forward portion, an approximately circular shaped casing mounted on the frame between the brush and the hopper, the said casing being disposed in a plane transverse of the frame and inclined longitudinally from the vertical and having a attened inlet opening at the lower portion disposed to receive sweepings from the brush and having an outlet'at the upper portion discharging into the hopper, a plurality of blades mounted to rotate in the said casing about an axis coincident with the axis of the casing to convey matter arcuately therein from the inlet to the outlet, and means for rotatably actuating the said blades so that each portion" thereof is maintained in contact with the casing.

2. In a street sweeping machine, a wheeled versely on the said frame, a hopper supported on the frame, a flat elevator casing mounted in oblique position on the frame, the said casing having the major upper portion of circular contour and the lower peripheral portion shaped to form a transversely flattened bottom part having tapering sides merging into the upper circular portion, the bottom rear portion being open to form an inlet and the upper forward portion open to form a discharge outlet, a plurality of blades mounted in the said casing and movable in a marginal path therein, means for revolving the said blades for moving sweepings from the bottom inlet to the upper outlet of the casing, and a guide frame in the said casing associated with the said blades adapted to guide the blades in their movement so that the outer edges of the blades will permanently contact with and follow the irregular perlpheral contour of the wall of the casing.

4. In a street sweeping machine, a wheeled frame, a pair of arms pivotally connected with the frame and extending longitudinally thereof, a cylindrical brush extended transversely of the frame and having its ends journalled in the free ends of the said arms, a pair of arcuate support members pivotally connected with the frame in vertical arrangement having street engaging rollers mounted at adjustable support element carried vby the upper end of each or the said arcuate members having supporting connection with the said brush, and means for rotating the brush.

5. In street sweeping apparatus having a wheeled frame, a rotary street sweeping brush having end trunnions, a pair of vertically disposed support frame sections pivotally connected with the said wheeled frame and supported on the surface over which the apparatus operates, and a support element adjustably mounted at the upper portion of each support frame section having connection with a trunnion at the end of the brush for vertically adjusting the said brush.

6. In street sweeping apparatus having a wheeled body frame, a cylindrical brush having axlal trunnions projecting from the ends thereof, a palr of brush support frame sections pivotally connected with the body frame in upstanding posltlons, each of the said frame sections having a ground engaging support roller, a screw member mounted in the upper portion of each frame section having support connection with each trunnion of the brush for adjustably supporting the brush with relation to the frame sections a vertically swinging arm pivotally connected with the body frame andhaving a trunnion of the brush rotatably journalled in its outer end, and means for rotating the said brush.

OLIVER J. ARNETT.

the lower ends thereof, anv 

